Brass in pocket for Rugby parks

Cllr Lisa Parker - proud of the borough's track record of working with communities on green spaces

Published:11:56Monday 14 March 2016

Share this article

The town centre will be getting a little bit greener after two community organisations picked up £10,000 each from the government.

The borough council worked with New Bilton Community Association and Benn’s Friends to bid for funding from the new pocket parks programme.

And the Department for Communities and Local Government has now announced both have been successful.

New Bilton Community Association and the council have drawn up plans to create Gladstone Green Pocket Park, in Gladstone Street, complete with seating, fruit trees and raised beds for the growing of fruit, vegetables and herbs, an expansion of the council’s successful edible borders project.

“This will create a community leisure facility for all residents to enjoy fresh air, exercise, growing fruit and vegetables, and, in future, open air events, all through transforming a piece of waste ground.”

The council and Benn’s Friends plan to build a new mini multi-use games area at Craven Road’s Millennium Green, with football and basketball facilities.

When completed, the council plans to rename the pocket park, Whistance Millennium Green, in memory of the late ward councillor Brian Whistance, who played an instrumental role in the park’s creation.

Secretary of the Friends, Amber Merrick-Potter, said: “The funding will mean we can start making real improvements to this much-loved park, which will make a huge difference to local people.”

Cllr Lisa Parker, the council’s portfolio holder for sustainable environment, said: “We’re proud of our track record in working in partnership with communities to develop parks and green spaces which meet the needs of our residents.

“The grants promise to make a real difference to the Benn and New Bilton wards and I’m looking forward to seeing the results of the work later in the spring.”